James’s 29g Nano Build

[F i s h y]

Genius! So... do I need another black box light? Or do I just need to hang this one, so the spectrum reaches all the way to the corners?

I'm not familiar with this particular type of light or it's coverage area. I would say that short term raising it can either help spread the light better which would be good, or it will decrease the intensity reaching the full bottom and you will see cyano grow where it is currently minimal. This will indicate if you need a 2nd light or better light.

 

[James_O]

I'm not familiar with this particular type of light or it's coverage area. I would say that short term raising it can either help spread the light better which would be good, or it will decrease the intensity reaching the full bottom and you will see cyano grow . This will indicate if you need a 2nd light or better light.

Well dang, that sucks. I spent $100 on this thing. Would buying another one be the better option?

It’s an Evergrow IT2040, and here are the stats:

(Not sure if this helps)

 

[James_O]

I'm not familiar with this particular type of light or it's coverage area. I would say that short term raising it can either help spread the light better which would be good, or it will decrease the intensity reaching the full bottom and you will see cyano grow where it is currently minimal. This will indicate if you need a 2nd light or better light.

Oh, I do have the Nicrew light on top of the black box, just so it lights up the corners.

Maybe this is the issue?

I’ll upload some picture of the current setup in a bit.

 

[Reefbuds]

Hate to tell you man.. but lighting and flow are the 2 most important things.. don't skimp on either. If you can drop 100 bucks on a t5 light. It will get the job done for you until you can get a high powered led.. but really a t5 would be just fine for your tank

 

[F i s h y]

So one thing that stands out on the light stats is the 90 degrees. That means it's advertising the usable spectrum is vertical under the light itself. Which makes sense based on what we are seeing.

I'm a big fan of my kessil lights. Moderate price point and 1 360we would light your tank. Add in a controller and you could probably find a good deal used for 250 ish. I also love my T5 hybrids. I have a t5 metal halide hybrid over my nem tank and a t5 led (kessil) hybrid over my lagoon.

 

[F i s h y]

Here is a single kessil over my xenia and gulf rock tank with similar dimensions

 

[James_O]

So one thing that stands out on the light stats is the 90 degrees. That means it's advertising the usable spectrum is vertical under the light itself. Which makes sense based on what we are seeing.

I'm a big fan of my kessil lights. Moderate price point and 1 360we would light your tank. Add in a controller and you could probably find a good deal used for 250 ish. I also love my T5 hybrids. I have a t5 metal halide hybrid over my nem tank and a t5 led (kessil) hybrid over my lagoon.

I have heard that the T5 are really good lights... are these the T5’s you’re speaking of? https://dayton.craigslist.org/for/d/farmersville-t5-aquarium-light-fixture/7321795021.html

$100 max sound good?

Not sure if I should try to sell the black box back to my LFS or what...

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(Sorry I’m late on the pictures, they will be coming in, in a little bit)

 

[Reefbuds]

Yea something like that man. There are many different brands, just make sure its a reputable brand with the right spectrum bulbs and the right length for your aquarium, you want full coverage. When I started out years ago I got a good 2 bulb fixture for 100 bucks.. they are still around that price now as well if I'm not mistaken. Really good lights man, will grow almost anything and produce some really good looking light

Note: For bulbs i would go with one traditional blue actinic and one 10,000k crisp white. Really good generic setup that is great for starting out

 

[James_O]

Yea something like that man. There are many different brands, just make sure its a reputable brand with the right spectrum bulbs and the right length for your aquarium, you want full coverage. When I started out years ago I got a good 2 bulb fixture for 100 bucks.. they are still around that price now as well if I'm not mistaken. Really good lights man, will grow almost anything and produce some really good looking light

Note: For bulbs i would go with one traditional blue actinic and one 10,000k crisp white. Really good generic setup that is great for starting out

Not sure what the bulb colors are, but I can always ask the seller. (The 36” are 2x bulb)

The smallest ones they have are 36”, which is 6” longer than my tank is. However, they do have adjustable brackets, so they will fit the tank. Will that overhang on either side be an issue?

The two brands are Current USA and Aquatic Life - which of these would be better?

 

[Reefbuds]

They make 30 inch fixtures, If your going to buy one i would get the right size for your tank man

 

[Reefbuds]

Just google 30" t5 reef lights and check em out

 

[fishguy242]

i might say keep looking for correct size,no over hang wanted,
aquatic life good w built in timers,but are know to sometimes need the board replaced,
current t5 are also good lights, would not say no to either long as working .
look into hydroponic fixture,going to buy new bulbs anyway,are much more affordable ,and do same job.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I as always told you werent supposed to remove those, because those hold the tank together. They add/strengthen the structural integrity of the tank. Maybe I was told wrI have very ugly rim on my 44g tank, as much

I as always told you werent supposed to remove those, because those hold the tank together. They add/strengthen the structural integrity of the tank. Maybe I was told wrong?

I have read the same, and as ugly as they are I am keeping mine on, I have a 44g 200 litre

 

[James_O]

Here is the setup:

As you can see, if I turn the Nicrew off, it doesn’t provide lights to the outside of the tank:

 

[fishguy242]

you would prob be fine ,raising led 6" ,use the strip across front of tank,
but that raise should give you the light you need to the ends of tank.

 

[James_O]

Please note, this is what it looks like when it’s on the wood. It’s not hung up yet.

I simulated what it would look like if I hung it up and I came up with this: (12 inches above the surface of the water)

(Around 20 inches above the water)

 

[James_O]

With it raised, it does look much much better.

However, would it be better to try to sell this back to my LFS and get the 38” T5?

 

[fishguy242]

it does look good ,i'd go 10" ,also noticed the light from other tank on left ,should try to block that from reef,
as far as switching out to t-5's ,you will be replacing bulbs once a year.
not trying to discourage you from switching ,t-5 will give more uniform spread.

 

[count krunk]

Raise the light and maybe add a power head. See how that goes before you buy another light.

Yes something that lights across the entire tank is gonna to have better coverage.

My tank is 36" and I have a black box on the left and a 175w metal halide on the right

 

[James_O]

it does look good ,i'd go 10" ,also noticed the light from other tank on left ,should try to block that from reef,
as far as switching out to t-5's ,you will be replacing bulbs once a year.
not trying to discourage you from switching ,t-5 will give more uniform spread.

Tank to the left is freshwater, and that light creates algae issues in the fw tank. I never thought that would cause issues in the saltwater tank!

I will put a piece of paper there or something.

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Would the T5 be better in the long run?